Officers & Directors

Paul was raised in Hillsborough County Florida. He graduated from Brandon High School where he was a Varsity Letterman for BHS’s nationally recognized wrestling program. After high school, Paul attended Florida State University and the University of South Florida. As an undergraduate, Paul was a member of Theta Chi Fraternity and majored in Political Science. Paul received his J. D. in 2008. In his last semester of law school, Paul worked as a Certified Legal Intern with the 13th Judicial Circuit Office of the Public Defender, where he was assigned to represent juveniles charged with Misdemeanor Offenses. After being sworn in as a member of the Florida Bar, Paul joined the 13th Judicial Circuit Office of the Public Defender.

Over the next eight years Paul zealously and professionally represented indigent clients charged with a multitude of offenses. During his eight years at the Office of the Public Defender, Paul rose to the level of Felony Division Chief and was lead counsel in over seventy-five jury trials, including offenses ranging from DUI, Sex Offenses, Drug Possession and Trafficking, Homicides as well as juveniles charged as adults. In addition, Paul attended numerous certified legal education seminars, including the Gerald T. Bennett Prosecutor/Public Defender Trial Training Program, and Advanced Defender College. To this date Paul has litigated over one hundred and forty jury trials and continues to enjoy being appointed cases not only because he loves to help those in need, but he enjoys and excels in trial.

In the private practice setting, Paul expanded his practice of law, representing individuals who were injured in automobile accidents, investigations involving their professional licenses, being held under a Baker Act, and those dealing with substance abuse and their families.

Ms. Pavlidis earned her Bachelor of Science degree, Magna Cum Laude, with Honors Program distinction from the University of Tampa. Ms. Pavlidis received her Juris Doctorate, Cum Laude, from the University of Florida, Levin College of Law.

She began practicing law in 2003 and has represented thousands of people accused of a variety of offenses – from misdemeanors and juvenile offenses to felonies punishable by life, including homicides, vehicular homicides, and all levels of sex crimes, including capital sexual battery and child abuse cases. During her career, Maria gained a reputation for trying some of the most challenging and high-profile cases in the Tampa area. She began her legal career as an Assistant Public Defender in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit. She worked in the Major Crimes Bureau, a specialized division of the office reserved for the most experienced and skilled attorneys. It was in the Major Crimes Bureau that Maria gained valuable experience handling complex cases.

Maria was honored with the Attorney of the Year Award in 2009 and 2011 by her peers and supervisors at the Public Defender’s Office. In 2019, she received the James H. Kynes Memorial in the Trenches Award for excellence in criminal trial practice. She has given seminars on trial techniques, motion writing, racketeering and conspiracy offenses, mental health and the practice of law and Defending a Baby Death case.

She is Board Certified in Criminal Trial Law, one of the highest recognitions a lawyer in Florida can receive. Maria is admitted in all Florida State Courts and the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida.

Julianne Holt is a graduate of Leto High School, Hillsborough Community College, and the University of South Florida. She graduated summa cum laude from South Texas College of Law in 1980 and returned to Tampa to begin practicing law. In 1987, she became a special court-appointed public defender and served in that capacity for 5 years. In 1993, she was elected to the office of Public Defender of the 13th Judicial Circuit and has served this community in that capacity for the past 28 years. In addition, Ms. Holt’s commitment to education includes serving as an adjunct professor at the University of South Florida since 1997.

Ms. Holt participates on many committees and councils which are focused on issues pertaining to the criminal justice system, as well as improving the quality of life for the youths of our community. She is past President of the Florida Public Defender Association; a current member of the Board of Directors of DUI Counterattack; current Chair of the Leadership Council of Safe and Sound Hillsborough which maintains a public health approach to education and reducing violence in our community; Foundation Board Member of the Boys and Girls Club of Tampa Bay, and is Chair of the Public Safety Coordinating Council for Hillsborough County, just to name a few.

Ms. Holt has received multiple awards throughout her career. Under the leadership of Ms. Holt the Public Defender’s Office has received multiple, statewide “Davis Productivity” Awards which honors individuals and work units for innovative efforts that measurably increase performance and productivity in the delivery of state services and products. Her alma mater, South Texas College of Law recognized her dedication to public service with the “Public Service Award” in 2013. She received the 2014 Employer of the Year Award from the Mayor’s Alliance for Persons with Disabilities for her work with Pepin Academies. She was also recognized in 2014 by the Florida Association of Women Lawyers with a “Leader in the Law” Award. Most recently in 2018, she was named Woman of the Year by the Zonta Club of Tampa and was inducted into the Hillsborough County Women’s Hall of Fame in 2018. Also in 2018, Ms. Holt was recognized by the United States Middle District of Florida’s Historical, Education, and Public Outreach Committee as a “Hidden Figure: Firsts in Tampa Bay” as the first elected female Public Defender for Hillsborough County and The Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers’ Achievement Award. In 2019, Ms. Holt was the recipient of the Juvenile Justice Board Circuit 13’s Public Service Award followed by Tiger Bay Club’s Tampa Lifetime Achievement Award and the Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel, 2nd District Court of Appeal’s Champion of Professionalism Award in 2020.

Joel is the founder and manager of Elsea Law Firm, P.A., located in Tampa. There, he practices criminal defense. Joel is a graduate of Stetson University College of Law (’04) and the University of Richmond (’01). Mr. Elsea began his career as an assistant state attorney in Hillsborough County, where he served for over a decade. Joel is also an advocacy skills trainer at Stetson, working with their nationally recognized mock trial team.

Michelle Lambo is a Florida native, born and raised in St. Petersburg. She graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in political science and history. She then attended Stetson University College of Law and graduated in 2003.

Ms. Lambo started her legal career as an assistant public defender for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit in Hillsborough County, Florida. It was during her years at the Office of the Public Defender, where she honed her trial and advocacy skills.

In 2013, Ms. Lambo opened her criminal defense firm which focused on state and federal criminal defense. Ms. Lambo is known for fighting for her clients. She has tried over 100 cases. Ms. Lambo is an aggressive, dedicated and compassionate attorney. She represented clients all over the State of Florida as well as in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida.

Throughout her legal career, Ms. Lambo has stood up for the people, not the powerful. Even going so far as to create a law enforcement list (LEO List) which included officers who were known to provide untruthful testimony and/or false narratives.

Acting on a desire to change course, while still representing the people and not the powerful, Ms. Lambo joined Morgan & Morgan. She now dedicates her practice to representing individuals and families who have been injured due to the negligence of others.

Attorney Michael Maddux has been practicing law since 1992. He earned his B.A. in Political Science from Florida State University and his law degree from the University of Florida. He is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, where he has also presented on civil rights issues.

Michael served as an Assistant State Attorney and Assistant Statewide Prosecutor in Florida before becoming Board Certified in Criminal Trial Practice in 1999. He is admitted to practice in all federal court districts in Florida, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court. He also served two terms as president of the Hillsborough County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and is involved with the National Police Accountability Project.

In addition to criminal defense, Michael has developed a thriving personal injury and civil rights litigation practice. He has successfully settled hundreds of cases and is dedicated to pursuing justice for clients wronged by law enforcement through civil suits and internal affairs investigations.

Outside of law, Michael is active in his community, serving as board president for the Timothy Initiative, an elder at his church, and a former Chairman of the Mid-Florida Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Seminar. He enjoys spending time with his family, volunteering, cycling, and learning to play guitar.

Gretchen Cothron is the Staff Attorney for the Innocence Project of Florida. Her education and career have been focused on forensic science and wrongful convictions. Prior to joining the Innocence Project of Florida, Gretchen founded a forensic consultation firm, worked as an Assistant Public Defender, and advocated for criminal defendants in private practice. Along with serving on the HCACDL Board, Gretchen serves on the Hillsborough County Bar Association’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, and is an active member of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and Tallahassee Women Lawyers. Gretchen previously served as the President of the Greater Tampa Bay ACLU as well as Co-Chair of its Legal Panel, and as an Attorney Advisor for the Tampa Bay Abortion Fund.

Alexandra McCormack graduated from Stetson University College of Law in 2021 where she was a Trial Advocacy Team member of the country’s #1 ranked Advocacy Program. She began working with the Public Defender’s Office as a college student where she focused on investigation and preliminary court proceedings. She then became a Judicial Intern for the Criminal Trial Division under the Honorable Chief Judge Sabella. After law school she continued her public defense work as an Assistant Public Defender in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, first under Julianne M. Holt until her retirement in 2024, and now under Lisa Baker McLean. Alexandra has represented those who are indigent in all levels of crime, from misdemeanor offenses to homicide. Her current assignment is within the Felony Bureau.

Melissa Wilson is a Tampa native and Triple Gator, having received her B.S. (Psychology with Honors, 1999), B.A. (Criminology with Honors, 1999), and J.D. (2002) degrees all from the University of Florida. Upon graduating from UF’s Levin College of Law, Melissa returned home and has been practicing law in the Tampa Metro Area since 2002.

Ms. Wilson has devoted most of her legal career almost exclusively to Criminal Defense Litigation and upon being sworn in as a member of the Florida Bar, spent her first 9 years serving as an Assistant Public Defender for the 13th Judicial Circuit under elected PD Julianne Holt. Although Attorney Wilson specializes in Criminal & DUI/Traffic Law, she also handles some general legal matters as well, including limited Landlord/Tenant Disputes on a case-by-case basis. She also serves as a consultant to other attorneys in assessing cases & motion writing, as well as conducting witness depositions and participating in court hearings and mediation conferences.

Ms. Wilson has served on the Board of Directors for HCACDL since 2018 and is also a member of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. In her spare time Melissa loves to travel, experience live music (& the Arts in general), and nerd out on Star Wars, Marvel, & Bond, James Bond. Additionally, she volunteers with the Tampa Theatre Historic Movie Palace where she has served in various roles on the planning committee for its annual WineFest signature fundraiser since 2018.

Jeffrey Scott Marshall graduated from Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 2007. After initially working in the prosecutor’s office in Detroit, Jeff came to Tampa where he spent the next twelve years at the Law Offices of Julianne M. Holt, Public Defender in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit working as a trial lawyer, skills trainer, mentor, manager, administrator, & senior division chief. For the last several years he’s been in private practice capitalizing on all these experiences which have put him in position to take charge and overcome tough situations for clients every time.

Jeff learned most of his lessons from real life, but also from helping people in a variety of legal fields by working at places such as Michigan Pension Rights Project, Stillman Law Offices, Great Lakes Legal Group, the Honorable Kim Worthy, and under special contracts with mega firms throughout the United States. He’s currently licensed in Michigan and Florida, including the Middle District of Florida and the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Federal Court. The greatest combination of experience, though, comes down to the ability to harness it with poise. Trial work is about persuasion, strategy, and skill.

Bryant A. Scriven has been practicing law in the Tampa Bay area for over 17 years. He began his legal career as a Prosecutor with the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s office. During his time there he served as lead trial counsel in thousands of criminal cases, ranging from DUI’s to Attempted Murder. Since establishing his own firm in 2007, Mr. Scriven has translated this vast experience into defending the accused and helping the injured receive just compensation for their injuries.

Mr. Scriven has tried over 100 cases to verdict and has achieved not guilty verdicts in both state and federal courts for his clients.

• B.A. Political Science w/honors, University of Florida
• Juris Doctor Degree w/honors, University of Florida Levin College of Law
• Former State Prosecutor
• Admitted to practice in all courts in Florida, The US District Court for the Middle District of Florida and the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals
• AV-Rated by Martindale-Hubbell – Preeminent rating
• The National Trial Lawyer’s Association-TOP 100 Criminal Lawyers
• National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• Hillsborough County Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• The Hillsborough County Bar Association
• George Edgecomb Bar Association
• Certified Arbitrator for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)
• Hillsborough County Child Care Licensing Board Hearing Officer
• Chairman of Florida High School Athletic Association Section 3 Appeals Committee
• Contributing author/blogger—Legal Insights/Court Buddy

Joshua Monteiro joined Sammis Law Firm in early 2020 and became a shareholder and co-owner in late 2023. After graduating magna cum laude from the State University of New York (SUNY) in Potsdam, Joshua earned his law degree from the University of Kansas School of Law.

Joshua began his legal career as an Assistant Public Defender for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit in Hillsborough County and the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Pasco County, where he defended clients charged with a wide range of criminal offenses. In county court, he handled cases involving misdemeanors such as criminal traffic violations and DUIs. In circuit court, he defended clients facing serious felony offenses, including drug trafficking, aggravated assault, and sexual battery.

Joshua also practiced civil insurance defense for a prominent Miami firm, where he worked on personal injury insurance defense, first-party insurance litigation, and matters involving property and casualty insurance, among other torts, insurance litigation, and appellate law.

In addition to his legal practice, Joshua is deeply engaged in the legal and business communities. He currently serves as a Board Member of the Hillsborough County Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (HCACDL), a Founding Member and Board Director of the Hillsborough County Black Chamber of Commerce, and General Counsel for the George Edgecomb Bar Association. He is also a proud member of the Tampa Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.

Joshua’s leadership experience extends beyond the courtroom. He served over 29 years in the U.S. Army, active and reserve duty, gaining invaluable leadership and decision-making skills. Joshua joined the Army during high school, attending Infantry Basic Training at Fort Benning, Georgia, and later serving as an Air Defense Crew Member at various posts, including Fort Bliss, Texas, and Camp Casey, Korea.

After earning a Green to Gold scholarship, Joshua was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 2002. The following year, he deployed to Iraq as a platoon leader responsible for securing Baghdad International Airport. He later deployed twice more in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Joshua retired as a Major in the U.S. Army Reserve in 2022.

With over 25 years of experience in criminal law, Rocky Brancato has long been a respected figure in the Hillsborough County legal community. He spent much of his career at the Hillsborough County Public Defender’s Office, where he rose to second-in-command and handled some of the office’s most serious cases, including homicides and sex crimes, as a member of a specialized major crimes unit.

In 2025, Rocky founded The Brancato Law Firm, P.A., continuing his commitment to providing high-level criminal defense across Tampa Bay. He brings a strategic approach to each case, including the use of expert witnesses and a deep understanding of the mental health and specialty court systems.

Throughout his career, Rocky has trained and mentored hundreds of attorneys and has presented on criminal defense topics for Florida Bar continuing legal education. He holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell for criminal law and criminal defense and is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States and the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida.

Rocky is an active member of HCACDL, the Hillsborough County Bar Association, the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Lily McCarty is a Florida Bar Board-Certified Criminal Trial Lawyer, a credential possessed by only seven percent of all Florida Lawyers. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of South Florida Honors College and graduated from Florida State University College of Law in 2003. While in law school she worked as a Research Assistant, and interned with the Children’s Advocacy Center, and the Innocence Project of Florida.

Ms. McCarty began her legal career as an Attorney with the Hillsborough County Public Defender’s Office, where she represented clients on charges ranging from misdemeanors to first-degree murder. Her specialty and passion is litigating serious charges and difficult cases.

As a senior attorney at the Public Defender’s Office, she also specialized in the representation of juveniles charged as adults. In 2010, Ms. McCarty was awarded a Davis Productivity Award from the State of Florida Tax Watch, recognizing her efforts and results in significantly reducing the amount of juveniles charged in adult court. Ms. McCarty has been involved in over 100 trials and actively litigates her cases.

Ms. McCarty has extensive experience in preparing and litigating injunctions for protective orders from domestic violence, cyberstalking, and repeat violence.

In 2019, she received the James H. Kynes Memorial in the Trenches Award from the Hillsborough County Bar Association Trial and Litigation Section. Additionally, Ms. McCarty has previously served as an Adjunct Professor for Stetson University College of Law and has been a guest speaker for the University of Tampa, Florida Technical College, the ACLU, the Southern Poverty Law Center, Hillsborough County School District, the Department of Juvenile Justice, and the Hillsborough County Bar Association.

Ms. McCarty has an extensive history of trial victories, including not guilty jury verdicts in cases charging First Degree Murder. She has also been extremely successful in obtaining dismissals of charges based upon pre-trial motion practice and independent investigation, resulting in prosecutors and judges dismissing cases.

Ms. McCarty has presented Florida Bar Certified Continuing Legal Education courses on Suppression of Confessions, Sentencing, Direct Filed Juveniles, Injunctions, Jury Instructions, Defending First Degree Murder Cases, and RICO defense. She is a past president of the Hillsborough County Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and is actively involved within the Criminal Defense Community.

Scott A. Swartz, originally from Maryland, relocated with his family to Tampa while in high school. After graduating from The University of Virginia School of Law and becoming a member of the Florida Bar in 2007, Mr. Swartz joined the Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel in early 2008. Mr. Swartz has continued to serve the people of Hillsborough County as an Assistant Regional Counsel in both the criminal and civil divisions. Mr. Swartz currently serves as the Circuit Chief of the Regional Counsel’s 13th Judicial Circuit office in Hillsborough County.